After reading this CNN travel article about cell bill nightmares, I decided to get serious about affordable calls from Amsterdam to the US. I had already planned on using VoIP but wanted a cell-based backup just in case.

The article mentioned SIM4Travel and it looks like a decent deal. I'll probably go ahead and get the "occasional traveler" package for this trip.

Note that data plans aren't provided and text messages not guaranteed... but it looks like a good option for those of us coming from great distances.

http://www.sim4travel.com/

Hmm, I burned 400+ EUR for 30 MB in Serbia (and made deal with telco for 75 EUR for 250 MB out of country), but thats 3G... you won't pay that much in Netherlands. Even if you phone to USA. You see, 3G in Serbia is expensive for Serbians too and its non-EU. But it'd be wise to check your options, and put applications which use 3G off. Your phone also needs to support the 3G we have here, else you get low speed UMTS or GPRS.

For those who want to compare here is pre paid sim only options

http://www.vodafone.nl/shop/category...ly/cat18012008
http://www.t-mobile.nl/persoonlijk/h...doverview.aspx
http://www.kpn.com/mobiel/alle-telef...cAAAEYaM8453ic

You can buy these at shops in Amsterdam too. Just your phone has to be unlocked. If its locked you can unlock it at Arabian phone houses (cheap phoning worldwide, unlock stores, ...) for 5 EUR or sth.

KPN and Vodafone have best 3G coverage, T-Mobile a bit less good (even though they serve iPhone), but I think in Amsterdam it will all be OK coverage.

Theres also some hotspots for KPN and T-Mobile. Especially on Amsterdam railway station is KPN, and McDonalds has T-Mobile. Since I got DSL by KPN subsidiary I get hotspot for free; for others it costs a little bit of money. You still need VPN though! Authentication goes over HTTPS. Don't know if SIP works well enough.

PS: http://wikitravel.org/en/Amsterdam

Bump.

Some with CDMA phones will be unable to make calls in Amsterdam. I will bring as many phones as I can to loan out-- users will have to check around for SIM options. The previous post should be helpful.

Looks like Vodafone is a good option for using data on prepaid SIM.

9.5 euros for 30 days unlimited usage. http://www.vodafone.nl/english/prepaid/blox/

Wow, didn't know this worked with prepaid. Voda gives good speed too, full HSPA. But FUP. In Amsterdam there is WiMAX too, Aerea (WorldMAX).

Aha, I found out its listed on the Dutch pages of vodafone.nl as well but you have to search well. Without Careless BloX its 0,75 EUR for 15 min.

Well, in hindsight next time I will order from sim4travel.com. I only had a chance the first day in Amsterdam to buy a sim, and the Vodaphone clerk apparently misunderstood. I wanted at least a week's use with international calling, and wound up with one day's use and only local. Then I could not get Gizmo or Google Talk to work although they had been fine at home. Not much fun being so far from home and unable to call anyone...

Make your own callback service. (2 Voip accounts [Betamax I suggest with sip access]) + a free DID number + 2 more things (Search for tutorial)).
Simply you will just call your free number and hung up and then it will use you1st voip account (I assume betamax will do it free of charge) and call you through your 2nd voip account (Also free of charge to US).

Again, here what happens:
1- you call your number and hangup (This won't cost you anything)
2- you will be called with your 1st voip account (Make sure you can receive your calls for free)
3- You will dial your number + # on end
4- You will be calling number through your 2nd voip account
5- Enjoy talking

This will costs you near $0 and you don't need any internet access (No need for plan).

I tried the 2 VoIP options I mentioned above, and neither would work at the Summit. I could not get out or connect at all. Very frustrating.

This guide: http://www.scopezoom.com/guide8.htm